Not approaching the mosque smelling of onion or garlic shows respect for those around you.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked that those who had eaten onion or garlic not approach the mosque or gatherings of people with that smell. Personal cleanliness matters not only for ourselves but for those around us and for places of worship.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُفَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، زَعَمَ عَطَاءٌ أَنَّ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، زَعَمَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ أَكَلَ ثُومًا أَوْ بَصَلاً فَلْيَعْتَزِلْنَا ـ أَوْ قَالَ ـ فَلْيَعْتَزِلْ مَسْجِدَنَا، وَلْيَقْعُدْ فِي بَيْتِهِ ". وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِقِدْرٍ فِيهِ خَضِرَاتٌ مِنْ بُقُولٍ، فَوَجَدَ لَهَا رِيحًا فَسَأَلَ فَأُخْبِرَ بِمَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْبُقُولِ فَقَالَ " قَرِّبُوهَا " إِلَى بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ كَانَ مَعَهُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ كَرِهَ أَكْلَهَا قَالَ " كُلْ فَإِنِّي أُنَاجِي مَنْ لاَ تُنَاجِي ". وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ أُتِيَ بِبَدْرٍ. قَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبٍ يَعْنِي طَبَقًا فِيهِ خُضَرَاتٌ. وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ اللَّيْثُ وَأَبُو صَفْوَانَ عَنْ يُونُسَ قِصَّةَ الْقِدْرِ، فَلاَ أَدْرِي هُوَ مِنْ قَوْلِ الزُّهْرِيِّ أَوْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ.
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque or should remain in his house." (Jabir bin `Abdullah, in another narration said, "Once a big pot containing cooked vegetables was brought. On finding unpleasant smell coming from it, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked, 'What is in it?' He was told all the names of the vegetables that were in it. The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that it should be brought near to some of his companions who were with him. When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw it he disliked to eat it and said, 'Eat. (I don't eat) for I converse with those whom you don't converse with (i.e. the angels)
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 855. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadith. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Food, 49 (hadith no. 5452)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Cleanliness
As a table with references: Cleanliness sunnahs.
- Using the Miswak: Using the miswak is the finest sunnah of dental care.
- Sleeping in a State of Wudu: Making wudu before sleeping is the sunnah that brings peace to the night.
- The Friday Ghusl: Performing ghusl on Friday is to take a share of the blessing of that day.
- Removing an Obstacle from the Road: Removing something harmful from the road is an act of charity.
- Wearing a Pleasant Scent: Wearing a pleasant scent follows the sunnah and is a gift to those around you.
- Applying Ithmid: Applying ithmid kohl to the eyes before sleep shows the care the Prophet gave to eye health.